South Park Studios request 'Stick of Truth' pulled from THQ auction

South Park Digital Studios has filed a complaint that the game South Park: The Stick of Truth cannot be auctioned along with THQ's assets without the studio's approval.

According to a complaint recently filed with Delaware bankruptcy court, the original contract had South Park Digital Studios providing a license to use the series and characters in a game to be developed by Obsidian and published by THQ. As the intellectual property holder, South Park Digital Studios claims that it is not THQ's decision to auction the licensed game.

The bankrupt publisher also claims that its debts to South Park Digital Studios have already been satisfied, providing additional documents to the court to that effect.

THQ filed for bankruptcy last month, and is selling all company assets, including game intellectual properties and studios, in an auction.

THQ has previously said that there will be no reduction in staff at any of its studios during the sale, and that there will be no change in any of its current in-development titles.

South Park: The Stick of Truth, along with Company of Heroes 2 and Metro: Last Light, are all still scheduled for release in early 2013 as previously planned, though it now appears that the auction may impact the games after all.

All bids for the auction were due today (Tuesday, January 22). A sales hearing will be held tomorrow (Wednesday, January 23) announcing the results.